Submarine carried cartridge ejector



April 1951 J. v. AMERO 2,546,961

SUBMARINE CARRIED CARTRIDGE EJECTOR Filed May 31, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

F l G. 2. INVENTOR 3 JOHN V. AMERO April 3, 1951 J. v. AMERO 2,546,961

SUBMARINE CARRIED CARTRIDGE EJECTOR Filed May 31, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN V. AMERO ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 STATS (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 G. G. 757) My invention relates to a signal ejector. It has to do, more particularly, with a gun fo ejecting signal cartridges, such as cartridges for recognition signals, from a submarine while it is submerged.

On occasions, while a submarine is operating submerged, it is necessary to signal friendly surface craft by the use of flares, which are ejected by the submarine and rise to the surface where they automatically ignite, to prevent attacks on the submarine by such craft. However, it sometimes happens that enemy surface craft are mistaken for friendly craft and the flare aids the enemy in the attack on the submarine. The signal ejector guns used heretofore on submarines discharged the signal in such a manner that it would rise to the surface at some distance from the submarine, especially if the submarine was under way and executing evasive maneuvers.

However, the gun was so constructed and actuated that a profusion of air bubbles would be emitted, upon ejecting the signal, and the bubbles rising to the surface would indicate the exact location of the submarine, at the time of ejecting the signal, and thereby aid in the enemys attack on the submarine.

The object of my invention is to provide a sub marine signal ejector which will eifectively eject a signal cartridge while the submarine is submerged, without emitting air bubbles to betray the location of the submarine at the time of ejecting the signal.

According to my invention, I provide a gun which includes a barrel or signal cartridge receptacle that is located mainly within the submarine but extends through the hull thereof. The outer end or muzzle of the barrel is located outside the hull and is normally closed by a liquid-tight muzzle door. A breech door, which is also liquid-tight, is provided at the inner end of the barrel. Inter-locking mechanism is provided to prevent the opening of one door when the other is open. After the cartridge is positioned in the barrel and the breech is locked, the muzzle door is opened and the barrel is allowed to fill with water, while all air is simultaneously forced therefrom. I provide means for then introducing hydraulic pressure into the barrel, without the introduction of air bubbles, and this hydraulic pressure will serve to force the cartridge from the barrel. After the cartridge is forced from the barrel, the mrzzle door is closed, the water is drained from the barrel and the breech may again be opened to introduce a new cartridge.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings Wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding p'arts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my submarine signal ejector gun.

Fig. 2 is a side View of the gun shown in Fig. 1 with part of it in section.

Fig. 3 is a view, mainly in longitudinal section, illustrating the gun in condition for ejecting the signal.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the gun showing the breech and associated mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view Of a portion of the rod which operates the muzzle door.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the actuating valve of the gun.

Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in longtiudinal section and partly in side elevation, of the valve shown in Fig. 6.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated my signal gun as comprising a "barrel I which .is of tubular form. The main part of the barrel l is disposed within the submarine but its outer or muzzle end extends through thehull which is indicated by the numeral 2. The muzzle end of the barrel 1 is provided with the usual hinged water-tight muzzle door 3. The inner or breech end of the barrel is provided with a watertight breech door 4 of usual construction.

The door 3 is controlled by means of a. rod .5 (Figs. 1 and 2), extending longitudinally of the barrel E and mounted for reciprocation longitudinally thereof. The outer end of the rod 5 is suitably connected to a crank arm 6 by means of which the door 3 may be swung between closed and open positions. The rod 5 may be reciprocated longitudinally by means of a hand lever 'i which is pivoted at its upper end to the barrel I, as at 8. This lever extends through a vertical slot Bis an enlargement I9 formed on the rod. The slot is preferably of the shape illustrated in Fig. 2 and its forward and rearward edges are engaged by a boss I I on the lever.

The breech door 4 is carried by a hinged link I2 in the usual manner. As shown in Fig. 4 it including the usual rotatably mounted breech locking ring [3 which is rotated by means of a hand lever 14.

Interlocking mechanism is provided between the muzzle door 3 and the breech door 4 to prevent opening of either .door while the other is open. However, this mechanism will permit both doors to be closed at the same time.

The interlocking mechanism comprises a segmental locking lug I5 (Fig. 4) carried by the rotatable breech lock it. When the breech lock i3 is in the full-line position indicated in Fig. 4, which is its unlocked position,to permit opening of the breech door 1, the locking lug [5 will be positioned in a vertical or transverse notch it (Fig. 5) formed in the periphery of the rod 5. At this time, the rod 5 will be in its rearmost position (Fig. 7) so as to close door 3 and forward movement of the rod will be precluded. When the lever Us is moved to the dotted-line position to lock the breech lock H3 in locked position, the locking lug 15 will move completely out of notch lt and into a longitudinal right angular slot i? formed in the periphery of rod 5, since the notch l6 communicates with slot I! at its forward end, as shown best in Fig. 5. Consequently, forward movement of the rod 5 will be permitted, since lug it can move longitudinally of slot it, and, therefore, the muzzle door 3 may be opened, as shown in Fig. 3. However, the lever it cannot be moved into a position to unlock breech lock 53 as long as door 3 is open, due to the fact that lug i5 will contact with the bot tom side of slot it of the rod 5. Thus, whenever door 3 is open, the breech lock it cannot be unlocked. Furthermore, whenever breech lock 93 is unlocked, the door 3 cannot be opened. However, when breech lock i3 is locked, the door 3 may also be closed, because lug it will not extend into notch 96 but will merely extend into slot ll (Fig. 3) and rearward movement of rod 5 will be permitted.

The barrel l is provided with means for permitting the air to vent therefrom and means to drain the water therefrom when desired. The venting means comprises a valve l8 which is suitably connected to the top of the barrel. The drainage means comprises a valve I9, which communicates with a longitudinal groove or channel 28 formed in the wall of the barrel, and a second valve 2i which is provided adjacent to the breech of the The vent valve i8 and the drainage valves is and 2% are all manually operable.

The cartridge to be ejected by the gun may be of any suitable type and is indicated by the numeral 22 in Fig. 3. It is mainly of cylindrical form and has such a diameter that it closely fits within the barrel I. When the cartridge 22 is positioned in the barrel it moves past a dog 23 (Fig. 1) which is pivoted, as at 2 to the top of the barrel adjacent the breech. The dog 23 and its pivotal mounting are disposed within a small housing 2% on top of the barrel. A spring 26 urges the forward end of the dog 23 downwardly so that a portion of its forward end normally projects down into the barrel, as shown in Fig. 1. The rearward end 2'? of the dog contacts with a stop surface in t. e barrel to limit downward movement of the forward end of the dog. The lower edge of the dog 23 is inclined forwardly and downwardly and as the cartridge is positioned in the barrel, the dog will be engaged by the cartridge and its forward end will be forced upwardly, permitting passage of the cartridge beyond it. However, as soon as the cartridge passes the dog, the spring 26 will snap it down into its lowermost position so that its forward blunt end will bepositioned behind the rear flat end of the cartridge. Consequently, rearward movement of the cartridge in the barrel beyond the dog will be precluded.

The channel or groove in the wall of the barrel l is so disposed that it extends rearwardly from a point forward of the normal firing position of the cartridge 22. This channel serves as a by-pass to permit fiOW of water from the muzzle end of the barrel to the breech end past the cartridge 22. Since the valve 59 is connected to channel 26, it is connected to the lowest part of the barrel and will, therefore, effectively drain the barrel.

For supplying water from outside the hull of the submarine to the barrel l independently of the muzzle opening, a by-pass line 29 (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided. This line extends from an inlet opening til in the hull to a fitting 3! which is connected to the barrel at a point w ich will be forward of the normal firing position of the cartridge 22. This line is under the control of a manually operable flood valve 32.

My invention deals mainly with means for forcing the cartridge 22 from the barrel. This means will serve to apply hydraulic pressure within the breech end of the barrel so that it will act directly on the cartridge to force it from the barrel without emitting air bubbles. This means includes a hydraulic line 33 which is connected to the barrel I adjacent the breech thereof and at a point which is behind the forward end of the dog 23, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus the line 33 is connected to barrel I at a point behind the normal firing position of the cartridge 22.

The line 33 is connected to one end of a tank 34. This tank. 36% is composed of two frustoconical sections 35 and 3% which have flanges on their larger ends that are disposed in abutting relationship and are bolted together, as indicated at 3?. The line 33 is connected to the smaller end of the section 35 of the tank by a fluid-tight connection 3%. Similarly the small end of the section 3 5 is connected by a fluid-tight connection.

SE to an air pressure line MI. A diaphragm 4i is disposed within the tank 34 and has its peripheral edge gripped between the flanges of the sections 35 and 36. The diaphragm is flexible and may be made of rubber or other suitable material. Adjacent the small end of the section 35 a perforated diaphragm seat 52 is provided. Adjacent the small end of the section 36 a perforated diaphragm. seat 53 is provided.

The air line 4.23 is connected to a firing or operating valve M- which is supported by the barrel l adjacent the lever i which moves rod 5. The valve 4 -3 is also connected to a line 45 which leads to a suitable source of air under pressure.

The valve M includes a tubular member 46 (Figs. 5 and '7) which connects the lines and 45. This member 85 is provided with an imperforate partition 5'? substantially midway between its ends. On one side of this partition n are two rows of circumferentially spaced openings 48 extending through the wall of the member while on the other side of the partition are two rows of similar circumferentially spaced openings (l9. Surrounding the member 4% is a sleeve 50 which is made of two sections threaded together as shown, each of which has an inwardly extending flange 5i at its outer end which closely embraces the member d8. Each of the flanges 5i carries an expansible gasket 52 which is maintained in airtight contact with the outer surface of mem ber 46. The means for maintaining gasket 52 in such contact comprises an expansion spring 53, disposed within the sleeve 58 in the chamber 54 formed therein, which bears against a gasket expanding ring 55 associated with each gasket 52. Each ring 55 is provided with an expanding wedge portion 58 which engages the gasket 52 and forces it tightly into contact with the surface of member 48.

The sleeve 53 may be shifted longitudinally of the member it, by means of a yoke-shape lever 5",. This lever straddles the sleeve 58 and is pivoted to the lower supporting structure of the valve, as at 53. The yoke part of the lever provided with oppositely disposed pins '58 which extend into an annular groove Eli, formed in one of the sections of the sleeve 58, at diametrically opposed points. The handle 51 of the lever is provided with a housing in which a compression spring 52 is disposed. The lower end of this spring engages a ball $3. Thus, a spring dressed ball latch is provided for cooperating 2. 111 the locking notches 5e and 35 formed on the upper supporting structure of the valve as.

The notch 55 serves to lock the lever 5'? in venting position. At this time, as shown in '6, the sleeve 553 is in such position that the openings 4B are exposed to the atmosphere. The flange 5i and gasket .52 at the left-hand end of sleeve 5% will be beyond openings it and directly over partition M. This permits air to vent from the line 3G. Openings 49 are still covered by member 5% and. consequently, venting of air from line i5 is not permittedsince the air can merely enter into the chamber 54. The notch 55 locks the lever El in firing position. At this time the sleeve '53 is in the position indicated in '7. Consequently air fiows from the line &5, openings f-i into and through chamber through openings 58, and into the line 4&3 which conducts it to the tank 34.

Means is provided for preventing movement of the lever 5! into firing position unless the breech door 3 is closed and locked and the muzzle door 3 open. This means is shown best in l and 2. I comprises a pin 65 which is carried by the lever l which moves rod 5. This pin 5% pro jects laterally from the lever and is disposed in front of the yoke part of the lever 52?. Thus, as long as the lever l is in its rearwardmost position and, consequently, the rod 5 is in its rearwardmost position, which means that the door 3 is closed and the breech lock 53 is unlocked, the lever 5? cannot be moved forwardly into firing position. However, when the lever l is moved forwardly, the lever 53 can be moved to its forward or firing position.

In the operation of the gun, with the muzzle door 3. closed, the br ech door 5 open and. the firing valve 44 in venting position, the cartridge .22 is in erted and passed beyond the dog The dog will prevent the cartridge from S1 ding back towards the breech, due to roll or pitch of the ship, and covering the water intake line 33 where it is connected to the barrel. i. The breech door a is then closed and locked. The drainage valves 19 and 2! are closed and the air vent valve i8 is opened. The barrel is flooded by opening the valve 32 and supplying water into the barrel until it escapes from vent !8 at which time the vent is closed. This will insure that all air is removed from the barrel and from the hydraulic system which will be completely flooded. The flooding of the hydraulic system occurs by pa sage of water from the muzzle part of the barrel, through channel 21] beyond the cartridge 22, into the breech end of the barrel, into line 33 and into the tank 34. The water will fill the hydraulic system and force the flexible diaphragm ii to the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 where it will seat on the seat 43. When the barrel i, the line 33, and the tank 34 are completely flooded, as described above, the flood valve 32 is closed.

- The water pressure within the barrel i now will be equal to that of'the water outside of the hull of the submarine and, therefore, the muzzle door 3 may now be opened. The firing lever 51 is now pushed forward to firing position. This allows air under pressure to flow from line 25, through valve 34, through line at into the tank 34 where it will force the diaphragm M from the position indicated by full lines in Figs. 2 and '3 to the position indicated by dotted lines in such fig ures, where it will seat on the seat 32 at the other end of the tank. Deflection of the rubber diaphragm by the compressed air expels the water contained in the tank 3 with considerable force. The water forced into the breech end of the barrel l behind the cartridge 22 ejects the cartridge from the barrel.

The firing lever 5? is now swung back to its venting position. This operation permits the compressed air in tank. and line it to vent into the atmosphere. Due to water pessure in the tank 3 the diaphragm i! returns to its original position. The muzzle door closed, the drainage valves i9 and 2! are opened, and vent valve i8 is opened. The barrel 8 will be drained but the water will remain in line and tank 32. The breech door 5 now be unlocked and opened and the gun reloaded.

The signal ejected from the gun will rite to the surface at some distance from the submarine, especially if the submarine is underway and maneuvering. No bubbles will be emitted from the gun and, therefore, the location of the submarine at the time of firing the signal will not be indicated.

It will be apparent that with my invention that there is no possibility of air bubbles escaping and revealing the position of thesubmarine. To eliminate air bubbles I divided the hydraulic and air systems by a rubber diaphragm, the diaphragm dividing the tank so that air will be at one side thereof and water at the other side thereof. The sudden increase of the air pressure expels the water through the barrel of the gun With considerable force. With my invention the signal cartridge is positively ejected, the velocity of ejection can be controlled, and successive shots can be fired rapidly. The system is ex- 'trernely simple having only one moving part, the

diaphragm, and is economical to manufacture. Also corrosion and dirt will not affect the system.

Various other advantages will be apparent.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for government purposes without the payment cz" any royalty thereon or therefor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ejector for use with submarines when submerged comprising cartridge-receiving barrel extending from a point wit in the hull of the submarine to a point outside the hull, means for the barrel and removing the air therefrom, means for forcing predetermined quantity of hydraulic fluid into the barrel behind the cartridge suflicient to force the cartridge therefrom. means including a hydraulic system connected to said barrel, means for exerting pre sure on the hydraulic fluid in said system to force it into the barrel, and flexible means for e arating said hydraulic system and said pressure exerting means.

2. A signal ejector for use with submarines when submerged comprising a cartridge-receiving barrel extending from a point within the hull of the submarine to a point outside the hull, means for flooding the barrel and removing the air therefrom, and means for forcing a predetermined quantity of hydraulic fluid into the barrel behind the cartridge sufficient to force the cartridge therefrom, said means including a hydraulic system having a fluid supply chariber of capacity at least equal to said predetermined quantity connected to said barrel, a diaphragm in said chamber, and means for moving said diaphragm to displace fluid from said chamber and apply hydraulic pressure to said cartridge.

3. A signal ejector according to claim 2 wherein the means for moving said diaphragm comprises means for applying air under pressure directly to said diaphragm.

4:. A signal ejector for use with submarines when submerged comprising a cartridgereoeiving barrel extending from a point within the hull of the submarine to a point outside the hull, a water-tight muzzle door for the outer end of the barrel, a water-tight breech door for the inner said doors to prevent opening of one when the other is open, air escape and water drainage openings associated with said barrel, a tank divided into compartments by a flexible diaphragm disposed therein, a hydraulic line extending from the barrel adjacent the breech thereof to said tank at one side of said diaphragm and forming with the compartment of the tank and the barrel a system adapted to contain water, means for supplying water into said system when the muzzle door is closed, and a source of air under pressure connected to the tank at the opposite side of the diaphragm.

5'. A signal ejector according to claim 4.- including a stop in the barrel for limiting movement of the cartridge back towards the breech after it is positioned in firing position in the barrel, and a passageway extending along the Wall of the barrel from a point ahead of the cartridge to a point behind the cartridge when it is in its normal firing position.

6. A signal ejector according to claim 4 includ ing a firing valve in a line connecting the source of air under pressure to the tank, said valve being shiftable from a normal position where it vents the air side of said tank to a position where it connects said source of air under pressure to said tank.

'7. A signal ejector according to claim 4 including a firing valve in a line connecting the source of air under pressure to the tank, said valve being shiftable from a normal position where it vents the air side of said tank to a position where it connects said source of air under pressure to said tank, and means associated with said door interlocking mechanism for preventing operation of said valve when the breech door is open or the muzzle door is closed.

8. A signal ejector according to claim 2 wherein the means for moving the diaphragm comprises an air pressure line connected to the tank, a

firing valve in said line, said valve being shiftable from a normal position where it vents said line to a position where it connects said line to a source of air under pressure.

9. An ejector for use with submarines when submerged comprising, a receptacle, a hydraulic fluid container coupled to said receptacle, a diaphragm within said container, means for deflectin said diaphragm for forcing a predetermined volume of said hydraulic fluid into said receptacle, and means for restoring said diaphragm.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein said firstinentioned means includes a compressed gas system, said gas system and said hydraulic fluid being separated by said diaphragm.

11. A cartridge ejector for use with submarines when submerged comprising, a receptacle for said cartridge, a hydraulic system coupled to said receptacle, a compressed gas system, a chamber coupled at one end to said hydraulic system and at the other end thereof to said compressed gas system, said chamber being divided by a flexible member secured along its peripheral edge between said ends and having a fluid capacity sufficient to permit ejection of said cartridge upon single displacement of said diaphragm.

12. A cartridge ejector for use with a submarine when submerged comprising, a cartridgereceiving barrel extending from a point within the hull of the submarine to a point outside the hull, a hydraulic fluid container coupled at one end to said barrel behind said cartridge, a diaphragm within said container, means for flooding said barrel and filling said container with hydraulic fluid thereby to displace said diaphragm away from said one end of said container, and a compressed gas system coupled to the other end of said container to move said dia- "hragm toward said one end to displace the d from said container and apply hydraulic pressure tosaid cartridge.

13. A cartridge ejector for use with a submarine when submerged comprising, a cartridgereceiving barrel extending through the hull of submarine, water-tight doors for closing the inner and outer ends of said barrel, interlocking mechanism for said doors to prevent the opening of either when the other is open, a fluid container coupled at one end to said barrel at a point behind the normal firing position of said cartridge, a diaphragm dividing said container, means communicating with the exterior of said submarine for flooding said barrel and filling said container with water thereby to displace said diaphragm away from said one end of said container, and a compressed air system coupled to the other end of said container, said compressed air system including a firing valve which is shiftabie from a normal position where it vents air from said other end of said container to a position where compressed air is applied to said diaphragm, the application of compressed air to said diaphragm moving the diaphragm toward said one end of said container to displace the water therefrom and apply hydraulic pressure to said cartridge, and means associated with said door interlocking mechanism for preventing operation of said valve when the inner door is open or the outer door is closed.

14. A cartridge ejector for use with a submarine when submerged comprising, a cartridgereceiving barrel extending through the hull of said submarine, a hydraulic fluid container coupled to the inner end of said barrel, a diaphragm dividing said chamber, means communicating with the exterior of said submarine for flooding said barrel and filling said container with water thereby to displace said diaphragm in one direction to conform with a portion of the interior surface of said container, and means for displacing said diaphragm in the opposite direction to displace the water contained in said container and apply hydraulic pressure behind the cartridge to force the cartridge from the outer end 9 V 10 ofsaid barrel, said last-mentioned means con i UNITED STATES PATENTS prising an air pressure line connected to said 1 Q T container, and a firing valve in said line, said jfi name Date valve being shiftable from a position where it 1158303 JQnes 1922 vents said line during the aforesaid filling of said 5 1,522,359 Blorklund 31 1925 container to a position Where it connects said 1520:1556 Techel 10, 1925 line to a source of air under pressure. 1,545,116 Chas? July 21, 1925 JOHN AB/[ERGv 1, 35,1 4 Methhn Dec. 18, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED 0 F a n Number Country Date The fOllOWlIlg reielences are DJ. record in the 372,261 Italy June 22, 1939 file of this patent: 

